Creating Good Vol. 1

vol

JULY 2023

INSIDE VOL 1 HOPE REBORN

BRINGING LIGHT & LIFE TO KENYA ONE GENERATION AT A TIME

VOLUNTEERING FROM THE HEART

A CONVO WITH CASA’S MATTHEW WADLINGER

SELF-CARE FOR NONPROFITS

SUSAN KENNY HELPS US BREATHE DEEPLY WHILE DOING GOOD

an ode to non proFI ts C

ommunity is the backbone of every story we tell at Rogue Creatives. The people who come together over a common goal to create something truly incredible & make the world better continually inspire us.

And that’s why we do what we do. We want the world to know just how GOOD these organizations truly are. We are honored to play a role in uplifting their stories, and we believe that if we can shout their missions from the rooftops, we can help grow stronger, brighter, happier communities.

As you’re about to read, we’ve had the privilege of working with nonprofits both on opposite sides of the world and right in our own neighborhoods, nonprofits who put their hearts and souls into creating opportunities, hope, and of course, good.

So, dive in and join us on this wonderful journey of Creating Good.

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ca A Q&A WITH MATTHEW WADLINGER

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asa hey say, “Home is where the heart is,” and for CASA of Orange County (Court Appointed Special Advocates), that couldn’t be more true.

court advocacy, and encouragement. The bond between CASAs and their youth is proof that the power of connection fuels hope for bright futures: graduating high school and a lifetime of success through higher education and beyond.

Right here in our community, CASA volunteers (also called CASAs) are paired with youth in the child welfare system, many of whom have experienced abuse and neglect at home. For these tender-hearted advocates, becoming a CASA is a commitment to mentorship, emotional support,

We sat down with Matthew Wadlinger, Chief Strategy Officer of CASA of OC, for an episode of our podcast Nonprofit Connect with Matt Barnes to discuss building a dedicated team of volunteers.

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Q:

What drew you to nonprofit work?

A: My dad used to volunteer for the American Red Cross. He was in charge of building out disaster relief shelters. If there was a big snowstorm or a fire, he would be the person that they would call to open up some sort of shelter at a rec center or a school where

people could go and get food. He would take my younger brother and I with him, and we would help out in different ways…

I always saw my dad go above and beyond to help those people in need.

Q:

To be a CASA, there's a ton of training involved. How do you get people to make that commitment?

A: Our organization is structured in a way where we have advocate supervisors that oversee our volunteers. Their job is to really help, assist, and prevent the burnout of our volunteers.

So how can we help you be the best volunteer that you can be? We have message boards where our volunteer community can talk to one another and know that they're not going at it alone.

Q:

WHAT ADVICE

WOULD YOU GIVE TO

NONPROFITS

FOR HOW TO SUPPORT

VOLUNTEER EN�A�EMENT ?

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The servant leadership mentality creates a culture where volunteers’ needs are being met, and our focus is to create a positive environment for people to work in. Then when you do make those asks, I think volunteers are more apt to do it.

You just meet people where they're at. They're ready and willing to engage because they feel a connection with the organization and the people inside of it...

...creating a really good flow.

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Q: What are you particularly excited about?

A: There seems to be a lot of effort and talk right now about family reunification, family-finding efforts, and what we can do to make families stronger. If you ask any one of our kids where they want to be, nine times out of ten, they're going to say they want to be with their family, even if it was the most horrific abuse that they were experiencing. So I think the solution is doing more family-finding work and getting it done at an earlier stage. Earlier intervention to find aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, second-degree relatives—anyone that's willing to take the child in—is going to be most helpful.

IT’S TRUE. HOME ISN’T HOME IS THE CASAOC.ORG

A huge thank you to Matthew for interviewing with us. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

You can listen to the complete interview with Matthew today. Just search Nonprofit Connect with Matt Barnes on your favorite podcast platform.

A PLACE. PEOPLE AROUND YOU. And for CASA, home is every advocate who dedicates their time, and their hearts, to the youth of Orange County.

You can become a CASA volunteer and change the life of a youth in the child welfare system, too.

SELF-C TIPS 1 Findacauset :

FOR NONPROFIT PROFESSIONALS FROM THE NONPROFIT LEGEND

. u o y s e r i p s n ia t h

We are better together. And while we know that sentiment gets used a lot (A LOT!), that’s just because it’s so true! Coming together is the idea behind Nonprofit Connect, our quarterly speaker series and podcast we launched this year.

Every day, we’re inspired by nonprofits and the change they bring to Orange County and beyond. That’s where Nonprofit Connect comes in. We saw an opportunity to facilitate connections for nonprofit professionals to network, learn, grow, and maybe even collaborate.

We launched both our spring NPC event and the first podcast episode with special guest Susan Kenny, the CEO of UPLIFT Yoga Foundation and the founder and chief DoGOODer at Do GOODer Partners. After 20 years of working with nonprofits, Susan has become an expert in helping organizations expand and serve their communities. One of the most important things she’s learned? Your passion, health, and wellness are just as important as your nonprofit’s goals.

Hear more of what Susan has to say about wellness for the nonprofit professional on our episode, “Burnout at Nonprofits with Susan Kenny.”

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HOPE RE BO

E E ORN HOW ONE MAN HEALED HIS HEART AND BROUGHT HOPE TO THOUSANDS

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fter dedicating his life to ministry and education, Stanley Matunga reaped the success of his hard work and compassion, serving as a professor and Dean of the Graduate School at Hope International University in Fullerton, California.

But in the early 2000s, several of his family members in Kenya passed to AIDS–a tragedy that would shape not only Stanley’s future but the future of East Kenya.

At this time, the AIDS crisis had been declared an epidemic. By the end of 2000, UNAIDS reported that roughly 25 million people of all ages were living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 2.4 million deaths that year alone. Upon returning to Kenya, Stanley saw this crisis firsthand as children cared for their dying parents, and extended family became primary caretakers.

It was then that Stanley, his wife, Rose, and their three sons were called to action and founded Tumaini International.

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Tumaini’s purpose is to end the cycle of poverty by educating Kenyan youth and investing in their communities one village at a time.

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TUMAINI

Language: KISWAHILI Translation: HOPE

I

n an initiative run by Kenyans for Kenyans, Tumaini International spreads hope across the country, starting with the youngest generations–their future leaders.

asset-based community development approach also covers all costs associated with starting a new venture, from construction to supplies, ensuring local communities can maintain self-sustaining businesses.

Through their donor-supported child sponsorship program, Kenyan children and teens live with extended family or neighbors and receive medical care, food, clothing, and an education from kindergarten through high school. Teen girls attend the prestigious Tumaini International Girls High School, a boarding school with a curriculum designed to prepare students for leadership roles.

Tumaini continues to make great strides toward a future of healthy communities. What was once a walk-in clinic has now grown into the Tumaini Mission Hospital, offering 24-hour outpatient services, a pharmacy, a maternity ward, and more, along with mobile outreach units. Soon, they’ll expand their inpatient services to include surgery, radiology, nutrition, dental, and physiotherapy.

But the support does not end once students age out of the child sponsorship program. Each year, roughly 60 students graduate and have the opportunity to receive support into higher education. College sponsorships and Tumaini’s Alumni Fund make it possible for students to earn degrees or start their own businesses.

And they aren’t stopping there. Today, thanks to a community that has come together in the wake of tragedy, hope spans eleven Kenyan counties, with even more to come.

Thanks to Tumani’s community-based organization model, unemployed youth, alumni, and women can pursue opportunities through job training and business development initiatives in industries including agriculture, fishing, and textiles. Their

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1, 00 Kenyans receive support through Tumaini’s socio-economic development programs, which provide job training and sustainable development to unemployed youth and women.

34,000 00 Kenyan girls attend Tumaini’s International Girls High School, opening new possibilities for an entire generation of women.

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vulnerable children receive medical care, food security, clothing, and a complete education through high school, thanks to Tumaini’s child sponsorship program.

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patients are treated at Tumaini’s Mission Hospital Outpatient Clinic, complete with screening & treatment capabilities, an onsite pharmacy, a maternity ward, and a lab.

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GO R

In Loving Memory of Rogue Barnes 3.23.09 – 2.07.23

OING ROGUE WITH ROGUE CREATIVES

It all started with a dog.

OU KNOW YO Y DO Whether you’re a U

RAND? RB

For almost a decade, our team has combined those passions and talents to take brands, especially nonprofits, on a journey where they can learn a bit more about themselves and make the world a better place. We call this The Strategic Storytelling Framework™, our proprietary, three-step process to telling great stories–because your story deserves to be told the best way possible!

Our first issue of Creating Good has been a wonderful labor of love and a true testament to how all of your stories have changed us for the better, too.

Thank you for being a part of this creative journey.

HOW W ELL

Our sweet, wrinkly Frenchie sparked an endeavor to connect Orange County and be our most creative selves. The love we have for art, photography, filmmaking, writing, design, community, and of course, FUN has become the backbone of our work at Rogue Creatives, the marketing agency we named in her honor.

business owner or nonprofit leader, sign up for a free brand consultation and take our Brand Personality Quiz to find out how your views & motivations form your Brand Archetype!

LEARN MORE AT ROGUECREATIVES.COM 2023 © CREATING GOOD